SDSU’S THOMAS MUST MAKE BIG LEAP
THOMAS MAY WISH SHE COULD JUMP COUNTRIES

Aztecs star to compete in Jamaica nationals

You hear about U.S. track athletes digging through family trees, unearthing a grandparent or great-grandparent from a remote Caribbean island that qualifies them for citizenship and, ultimately, an Olympics or World Championships in an event loaded with talent in the States.

Shanieka Thomas has the opposite problem. She’s Jamaican. She’d have a better shot at reaching the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Russia, if she were American.

The San Diego State junior is in Kingston this week to compete in the Jamaican Championships, which serves as the qualifying meet for the worlds. She’s fresh off winning an NCAA title in the triple jump by nearly 2 feet … and she’ll still probably have to record a personal best and beat a pair of Olympic finalists from last summer to make the world team.

“Right now in the U.S., I would be right at the top,” Thomas said. “But I have Kimberly Williams and Trecia Smith to compete against.”

The U.S. Championships are 1,900 miles away this week in Des Moines, Iowa. The women’s triple jump is one of the first events today, and Thomas’ school record of 46 feet, 5¼ inches is better than any American woman at an outdoor meet this year by 7½ inches. It is an event in which the powerhouse U.S. team has a woeful history, never placing in the top eight since its Olympic debut in 1996.

Jamaica’s Williams was sixth at the London Olympics. The 37-year-old Smith was seventh in London, is a former world champion, and has a PR of 49-9.

The triple jump at the Jamaican Championships isn’t until Sunday night, one of the meet’s final events, and Thomas says she won’t spend the days before checking marks from Des Moines and playing the what-if game.

“I’m just going to be focusing on me, making sure I hit (47-3),” Thomas said of the automatic qualifying standard for the World Championships. “It doesn’t matter what people in the U.S. jump, because it’s not going to affect me.”

And in Des Moines

A contingent of 30 athletes with local ties is at Drake Stadium for the U.S. Championships. Here are five to watch:

Charles Jock: A year ago, the Mission Bay High alum was the reigning NCAA champion and among the favorites to make the Olympic team in the 800 meters, and was leading the Trials final through 600 meters. He finished last. He has run a time of 1 minute, 45.01 seconds this season but otherwise has been unimpressive, including a May meet in San Diego.

Jamie Nieto: The longest-tenured athlete at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista won the men’s high jump at the Trials last year at age 35. He finished sixth at the Olympics and decided to return for one final year, his 20th in the sport.

Brittney Reese: A new training center resident, Reese is the prohibitive favorite in the women’s long jump at the World Championships in August. She has won the last two world titles and the 2012 Olympics. Her best this year (23-9½) is nearly a foot farther than anyone else.